A traditional song was sung by Scout River led by Willow Pingree during Wednesday's ceremony. (FCSD#21)

Old cemetery behind Ft. Washakie School cedared in Wednesday ceremony

(Fort Washakie, Wyo.) – The Board of Trustees of Fremont County School District #21 held a ceremony at a gravesite located behind the elementary building on Wednesday afternoon on ground recently acquired by the school. The graves are dated from the 1920’s when the school was a government boarding school. The Archeology Department from the University of Wyoming determined there were 8-10 graves located in the one area.

With the construction of a new school building to begin soon, the School District’s Board of Trustees and Administration wanted to recognize and preserve the area by having this ceremony and cedaring conducted by tribal elders.

A traditional song was sung by Scout River led by Willow Pingree.

Darwin St. Clair, the Shoshone Business Council Chairman; Starr Weed Sr., a Shoshone Elder; Beatrice Haukaas, a Shoshone Elder; and Telano Groesbeck, an Arapahoe Tribal member, also spoke in regards to heritage, traditions and the future of the native peoples.